Yarn threading mechanism for a pattern attachment for tufting machines



May 26, 1964 M. M. BEASLEY YARN THREADING MECHANISM FOR A PATTERN ATTACHMENT FOR TUF'TING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OCT.. 5, 1961 -l i INVENTOR. BY MAX M. BEASLEY gwada/da ATTORNEY lllll l;

May 26, 1964 M. M. BEASLEY 3,134,529

YARN THREADING MECHANISM FOR A PATTERN ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES Filed oct. 5, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAX M. BEA SLEY AT TRNE' Y United States Patent O 3,134,529 YARN THREADING MECHANISM FR A PATTERN ATTACHMENT F93. TUFHNG MACHNES Max M. Beasley, Chattanooga, Tenn., assigner to The Singer Company, New York, NX., a corporation of New .lersey Filed Get. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 143,225 7 Claims. (Cl. 22d-H0) This Iinvention relates to tufting machines and particularly to a yarn threading mechanism for a pattern attachment for a tufting machine such as disclosed in the United States patent of Card, No. 2,965,866.

in `a tufting operation, a yarn feeding mechanism is used to feed yarn from a creel, which is the yarn supply, to ythe needles of the tufting machine, there being one end of yarn for each needle of the tufting machine and thus for each row of tufting in 'the article being produced. So-called high-low tufting, that is, tufting in which the height of the pile is varied to produce fa textured pile surface in the article, may be produced by feeding varying amounts of yarn to the needles, which may be accomplished by a yarn feeding pattern attachment. The resulting pattern in lthe article being produced depends upon the threading of the individual yarn ends with respect to the various yarn feed devices, and upon the cycling of the drive speed of the -feed devices. Variations Iin the pattern can be obtained by changing the cycling of drives of the feed devices and by rearranging the individual yarn ends relatively to the various feed devices.

In one form of pattern attachments, such as forms the subject matter of the above noted Card patent, the feed devices comprise a plurality of yarn feed rolls and the yarn ends from the creel are directed individual to one of the yarn feed rolls and lfrom there, through further guides, to the respective needles. Heretofore, in such a pattern attachment, the initial threading of the yarn ends through the yarn feed rolls, `as Well as any subsequent rethreading 'to change the pattern, has been arduous and time consuming. The present invention is directed particularly to improvement of the threading in such a pattern attachment.

The object of this invention is to provide means for facilitating the threading and rethreading of a pattern attachment. lt is also :an object of this invention to provide means whereby the yarn ends can be rethreaded with respect Ito any selected ones of the yarn feed rolls without cutting the yarns or unthreading them yfrom the eedle. Further objects of this `invention are to provide a yarn threading means which is simple and economical, easy lto operate and dependable.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of .the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l -is a fragmentary front elevational View partly broken away of -a machine embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the yarn thread-ing mechanism of the machine of FIG. l.

With reference to the drawings, there is disclosed a tufting machine i on which is mounted a roll-type pattern yattachment having a frame 2 secured as by bolts 3 to the frame of the tufting machine. The pattern attachment includes six variable speed yarn yfeed rolls 4 mounted Patented May 26, 1964 ICC upon shafts 5 and a constant speed yarn feed roll 6 mounted upon a shaft 7, each of which shafts yare journaled at the one end in la bearing plate 8 carried by the frame 2.

Mounted upon each ofthe shafts 5 is a low speed magnetic clutch 9 having a sprocket 10 driven by a chain `11 which is in turn driven by a sprocket 12 on a shaft 13. Rotation -is imparted to the shaft i3 by a chain i4 entrained about a sprocket 15 on the shaft 1'3 and a sprocket 16 on a shaft i7. The shaft 17 carries a pulley 18 connected by `a belt 19 With a source of power (not shown) which may be the main shaft of the rtufting machine. Also mounted upon each of the shafts 5 is a high speed magnetic clutch Ztl hav-ing a sprocket 2l connected by a chain 22 -t-o a sprocket 23 on a sleeve shaft 24 journaled on the shaft 13 and having a sprocket 25 connected by a chain 26 with a sprocket 27 on the shaft 16.

The chains 11 and 22 are thus driven continuously during 'the opera-tion of the machine. The rotation imparted to the `feed rolls `4 depends upon which of the clutches 9 and 2i? :is energized. While not herein disclosed, it is contemplated that the energization of the clutches 9 and Z will be controlled by a pattern mechamism for example as disclosed in the above noted Card Patent No. 2,966,866 to which reference may be had for a more complete understanding.

The constant speed yarn feed roll 6 is driven from the shaft 13 by a gear train 2S. y

Yarn Y `from the creel -is led to a yarn terminating board 29 having thread eyes 36 through which the individual yarns are threaded. From this point, the yarns :are directed in a substantially parallel arrangement to the needles of the tufting machine and collectively form what is termed the yarn sheet. The individual yarns of the yarn sheet are guided or held 'in substantially parallel spaced relation relative to the feed rolls 4 by stationary yarn lguide means in the term of yarn guide bars 3l carried by -the bearing plate 8. The `guide bars 31 are disposed on one side of the feed rolls i and are provided in such number that there is one guide bar above and one guide ybar below each of the feed rolls 4. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention in which there are seven feed rolls, there are provided eight guide bars 31.

On the opposite side of the feed rolls 4 from the guide bars l31 there `are provided retaining members 32 carried by the bearing plate and including one retaining member for each guide bar or a total of eight. The retaining members are in ythe form of channel members having a vertical web in which is formed slots 33, there being one slot in each of the retaining members 32 for each of the yarns.

The yarn between any two of the `guide bars 31 is adapted to be diverted into `feeding engagement with the periphery of the associated feed roll 4 by means comprising a yarn engaging element in the form of a blade 34. The yarn is connected at a point 'to Ithe blade 34 by a thread eye 35. The blades '34 are adapted to be moved along the yarn Y and to be connected `to any one of the retaining members 32, the means for connecting the blade `to the retaining ymember comprising a notch or catch 36 formed in the rear o-f the blade which, when the blade is seated in the respective slot 33, engages against the back of the retaining member. The blades 34 are long enough so that with the catch 36 engaged with a retaining member, Ithe forward portion thereof rests on the guide bars 31. The thread eyes 35 are disposed on the blades 34 `at a point such that, when the blade is in operative position, the yarn is directed rearwardly to `the opposite side of the feed roll 4 :from the guide bars 3l and thus in position to engage a selected feed roll 4.

In order to obtain maximum feeding engagement bei? tween the yarn and the periphery of the feed roll 4, there are provided two-of the blades 34 for each yarn, which blades are adapted to be arranged one above and one below the feed roll. Thus, the length of yarn between the two guide bars 31 associated with the selected feed roll 4 4is diverted or expanded from the yarn sheet to forma loop that extends under the upper one of the guide bars 31, rearwardly to and through the threading eye 35 of the first blade 34, forwardly toward and about the periphery of the ffeed roll 4, to and through the threading eye 35 of the second blade 34, and then forwardly over the lower one of the guide bars 31. To increase the feeding efficiency, the

feed rolls 4 may be coated with a friction enhancing material such as emory.

In the initial threading of the machine, each yarn is threaded through the threading eyes 35 of Vthe blades 3d, which are then moved along the yarn and connected with the retaining members 32 associated with a selected feed rol1'4. Thereafter, to Vchangethe threading arrangement, the blades 34 are disconnected from the retaining member 32 to which they were previously connected,

Y moved along the yarn and reconnected to the retaining members 32 associated with a different selected feed roll 4. Since the blades 34 only divert a loop of the Vyarn .into feeding engagement, it is not necessary to cut the Y the needles.

To insure that the yarn remains in feeding engagement with the periphery of the feed rolls'il, there is provided a yarn pulling mechanism 37 on the yarn delivery side of the pattern attachment which places, a continuous pull on the yarn that is sutlicient to remove the slack on the delivery side gof the feed rolls, and an adjustable yarn tensioning device 33 on the yarn input side of the attachment. The yarn pulling mechanism 37 is of the type forming the subject matter of the United States patent application of I. L. Card, Serial No. 87,500, filed February 6, 1961 Yand rbriefly consists of a pair of fluted or i gear-like rollers that are spaced apart to mesh loosely soV that as'they rotate, the yarn disposed between them will be undulated and thus will be frictionally engaged toV ever, it is to be understood that the present disclosure l relates to a preferred embodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only vand not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claimherein is:

1. In a yarnfeeding mechanism, aplurality of yarn feed rolls, means'for driving said feed rolls, a plurality of stationary yarn guide means for guiding a yarn and defining a continuous yarn path relative to said feed rolls in spaced relation thereto, said stationary guide means including a pair of guide means associated with each feed roll and means Vfor selectively diverting a loop of yarn from said `yarn path Vbetween any selected one of said `pairs of stationary guide means into yarn feeding enengagement with a selected one of said feed rolls.

2. In a yarn feeding mechanism, a plurality of yarn feed rolls, means for driving said feed rolls, a plurality of stationary yarn guide means for guiding a plurality of yarns relatively to said feed rolls and to define a yarn sheet disposed in spaced relation to said feed rolls, said stationary guide means including a pair of guide means associated with each feed roll and means for selectively and individually diverting a loop of each yarn from said yarn sheet between any selected one of said pairs of stationary guide means into yarn feeding engagement with the periphery of the respective feed roll with which the selected pair of stationary guide means is associated for placing each of the yarns individually into continuous feeding engagement with a selected one of said feed rolls.

3. In a yarn feeding mechanism in accordance with claim 2, a yarn pulling mechanism disposed on the deliveryfend of the yarn sheet for placing a uniform pull on each yarn, and a yarn tension mechanism disposed on Y the input end of the yarn sheet for placing a drag on each Y yarn.

In a yarn feeding mechanism, a pluralityof yarn feed rolls, means for driving said feed rolls, a plurality of stationary yarn guide means disposed on one side of and in spaced Vrelation to said feed rolls and including one stationary guide means above and one stationary guide means below each of said feed rolls, yarn engaging elements having thread eyes, and means for releasably se- `curingsaid elements with said thread eyes on the opposite Vside of said feed rolls from said stationary yarn guide means for diverting a loop of yarn between two adjacent stationary guide means associated with a selected feed roll for directing the yarn into feeding engagement with the selected feed roll.

5. In a yarn feeding attachment, a plurality of yarn feed rolls, means fordriving said feed rolls, a plurality of stationary yarn guide means Ydisposed on one side of and in spaced relation to said feed rolls and including one stationary guide means disposed above and one stationary Aguide means below each of said feed rolls, a pair of yarn engaging elements having Athread eyes and being adapted to engage the yarn between two adjacent staf tionary yarn guide means, and means for releasably securing said pair of yarn engaging elements with the thread eye of one of said elements disposed above and the thread eye of the other of said elements disposed below the respective feed roll and on the opposite side of said ,feed p roll from said stationary yarn guide means for diverting the yarn from between the stationary yarn guide means into feeding engagement with the periphery of the respectiveY feedV roll.

6. In a yarn feeding attachment, a plurality of yarn feed rolls, means for driving said feed rolls, a plurality of stationary yarn guide means disposed on one side of and in spaced relation to said feed rolls and including one stationary yarn guide means above and one stationary yarn guide means below each of said feed rolls, retaining members corresponding in number to the number of said stationary guide means and disposed on the opposite side of said feed rolls from said stationary guide means, a yarn engaging element having a thread eye, and means for releasably connecting said yarn engaging element to a selected one of said retaining'membersV for diverting the yarn between adjacent stationary guide means to form a loop and directing the same into feeding engagement with the periphery of the respective feed roll.

7. In a yarn feeding attachment, a plurality` of yarn feed rolls, means for driving said yarn feed rolls, a plurality of stationary yarn guide means disposed on one side of and in spaced relation to said feed rolls and including a pair of guide means associated with eachfeed roll with one of the guide means of each of said pairs being disposed above said feed roll and the other guide means of each of said pairs being disposed below saidfeed roll,V yand a yarn engaging element having a thread eye and movable along the yarn into operative relation with any selected one of said feed rolls, and means for releasably securing said element with said thread eye on the opposite side of any selected one of said feed rolls from said stationary yarn guide means for diverting a loop o yarn between the pair of guide means associated With the selected one of said feed rolls inte feeding engagement with the selected feed roll.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Karns Dec. 3, 1940 Cabbie et a1. Feb. 17, 1959 Nowicki Nov. 17, 1959 Hackney et a1. Oct. 4, 1960 

1. IN A YARN FEEDING MECHANISM, A PLURALITY OF YARN FEED ROLLS, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FEED ROLLS, A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY YARN GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING A YARN AND DEFINING A CONTINUOUS YARN PATH RELATIVE TO SAID FEED ROLLS IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, SAID STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF GUIDE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH FEED ROLL AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DIVERTING A LOOP OF YARN FROM SAID YARN PATH BETWEEN ANY SELECTED ONE OF SAID PAIRS OF STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS INTO YARN FEEDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF THE RESPECTIVE FEED ROLL WITH WHICH THE SELECTED PAIR OF STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS IS ASSOCIATED FOR PLACING THE YARN INTO CONTINUOUS FEEDING ENGAGEMENT WITH A SELECTED ONE OF SAID FEED ROLLS. 